Canvas IgniteAI
What is Canvas IgniteAI?
Canvas IgniteAI is a suite of artificial intelligence features developed by Instructure and directly built into the Canvas LMS.
Canvas IgniteAI brings AI-powered features into Canvas workflows to support course management tasks, enhance communications with students, and provide helpful insights into student learning.
Canvas IgniteAI Pilot
The Division of Information Technology is currently piloting Canvas IgniteAI tools through July 31, 2026, during which time they are available at no cost. This evaluation phase allows us to gather critical feedback that will inform us of the next steps regarding long-term implementation.
Please note: Continued availability after July 31, 2026, cannot be guaranteed. Participation in the pilot is voluntary, and instructors may choose whether or not to take part.
How to Access Canvas IgniteAI?
All IgniteAI features are disabled by default across all courses in Canvas. These features are controlled and managed on a course-by-course basis, allowing instructors to choose which features best fit their teaching needs.
Faculty have the option to enable or disable these features in their own courses by navigating to Settings and going under Feature Options. To enable the desired IgniteAI feature, click the feature’s State icon and click Enabled. A green check mark indicates that the feature has been enabled.
Canvas IgniteAI Features
** Nutrition Facts provide full transparency. They help you understand exactly what you’re getting with each feature, how your data is being used, and enable you to make informed decisions about which AI features and tools you want to use.
Feature Name
Description
Support Page
(Canvas)
Nutrition Facts
Availability
IgniteAI Generator for Rubrics
Automatically generates a draft rubric from an assignment description. Proposes criteria, performance levels, and point values. Instructors review and edit before using it. Currently an opt-in feature flag
IgniteAI-Generator for Rubrics
IgniteAI Generator for Rubrics Nutrition Facts
Available for Instructors
IgniteAI Question Authoring for Quizzes
Allows educators to generate quiz questions automatically from source material. Instructors can upload course content such as a PDF, document, or select text from a Canvas page to prompt AI to create a set of questions (e.g. multiple-choice, true/false, short answer) based on that material and aligned to specific learning objectives or standards.
* Only New Quizzes
IgniteAI Question Authoring for Quizzes
Available for Instructors
IgniteAI Summaries for Discussions
Adds a "Summarize" button on discussion threads. Generative AI produces a concise overview of key points, themes, or questions. Instructors can refine summaries with a custom focus prompt or regenerate them.
IgniteAI Summaries for Discussions
IgniteAI Summaries for Discussions Nutrition Facts
Available for Instructors
IgniteAI Insights for Discussions
AI evaluates each student's discussion post against criteria (relevance, insightfulness, connection to material) and generates a suggested score with explanatory notes; visible in SpeedGrader. Instructors review and adjust before finalizing grades.
IgniteAI Insights for Discussions
IgniteAI Insights for Discussions Nutrition Facts
Available for Instructors
IgniteAI Translations for Discussions & Announcements
Translates text in Discussions, and Announcements into 100+ languages directly within Canvas. Supports multilingual learners and makes course communication more accessible.
IgniteAI Translations for Discussions & Announcements
IgniteAI Translations Nutrition Facts
Available for Instructors and Students but limited to discussions and announcements
IgniteAI Search for Courses
Allows users to search Canvas course content by understanding the context of queries and finding relevant results based on that context.
IgniteAI Search for Courses
IgniteAI Search Nutrition Facts
Available for instructors and students
IgniteAI Agent for Teachers
AI tool that answers your prompts and helps you manage students, communications, discussions, assignments, quizzes, extensions, and grades in Canvas.
IgniteAI Agent for Teachers
TBD
IgniteAI Grading Assistance for SpeedGrader
AI analyzes it and provides a draft score and feedback aligned with the assignment rubric including justification. Instructors review and adjust.
IgniteAI Grading Assistance for SpeedGrader
TBD
Large Language Model-Enabled Assignments (AI Chat Assignments)
Integrates a ChatGPT-like guided AI conversation directly into an assignment workflow. Instructors design a structured AI dialogue tailored to specific learning goals (e.g., Socratic discussion, writing feedback).
N/A
TBD
Additional Links:
AI Research Pages:
Experiencing an issue or need additional support? Contact our OneIT Team by